Young people's involvement in the social, economic, and political spheres is the key to sustaining the nation's ongoing development journey.

This was stated by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila at the official opening ceremony of the Association of Regional Councils' Extra-Ordinary Congress at Swakopmund. 

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says that the nation will not reach its destination if the youth are not part of the country's development 
journey.
 
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, 43.4% of the unemployed are young people aged between 15 and 34 years.
 
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, this is a collective challenge that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders, including the development and harnessing of the nation's human resource capacity. "On our part, the government is creating a conducive environment for private sector entrepreneurial start-ups and growth-oriented SMEs, as well as encouraging the establishment of youth-owned enterprises with the assistance of government interventions. Thus far, 28 out of the 121 constituency enterprises, as envisaged in the Harambee Prosperity Plan, have been established."

She says the Regional Councils should ensure that youth from each constituency have organised themselves to form part of this process spearheaded by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service.
 
The premier further added that young people need skills that meet the demands of both the private sector and government to find jobs and create their own businesses. "TVET is a critical provider of skills, knowledge, and technology needed to drive productivity in a knowledge-based economy. They equip young people with work-ready skills and are useful in addressing the challenges of youth employability and unemployment."
 
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila urged the government and the private sector to continue creating opportunities for young graduates by giving them internship programmes.